The recent ruling of a Lao court against five Christians could threaten the "very core" of Christianity in the country, a religious rights group in Laos warned Thursday.
According to UCANews.com, five Christians were sentenced last week to nine months in prison for allegedly violating Laos' governing medical practices. The case, which was filed in June last year, accused the five Christians for being "illegal doctors" for praying for the health of a dying woman.
English translation of the court documents show that the five Christians had conducted a prayer service for a Mrs Chansee, who was suffering from an unspecified illness, shortly before she died in June. Mrs Chansee's two sisters had urged her to seek healing prayers from the defendants.
The documents said that the defendants were Lao farmers, but Human Rights Watcher for Laos Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) identified them as pastors.
After the prayer services, Mrs Chansee again sought medical attention on June 21. She died shortly after at home. When plans were discussed to give Mrs Chansee, who was a Christian convert from Buddhism, a Christian burial, trouble erupted and led to the arrest of the five Christians.
HRWLRF Director Sirkoon Prasertsee criticised the ruling, saying it suggests to Lao authorities that they can arrest Christians for conducting prayers to sick and suffering people.
"The court ruling is threatening the very core of the Christian religion, where prayer for the sick and suffering is now officially ruled as a criminal offense," the HRWLR director warned.
Human Rights Watch Asia Director Phil Robertson also spoke against the ruling.
"If this group of five is charged and convicted for doing nothing more than praying at a dying woman's side, then this could mark a new nadir for religious freedom in (Laos)," Robertson said through an email to UCANews.com.
"Let's hope that common sense will prevail and Laos drops the case immediately," he added.
